QuickCheck: Was a curse inscribed on the tomb of Tutankhamun?
ACCORDING to legend, eight people met an unfortunate demise after ignoring the curse that was written on the tomb of Tutankhamun and opened it in 1923. Verdict:FALSEThere was (and is) no curse inscribed on Tutakhamun's tomb. Most of the people who were present went on to live normal lives. David Vernon in Skeptical – a Handbook of Pseudoscience and the Paranormal, ed. Donald Laycock, David Vernon, Colin Groves, Simon Brown, Imagecraft, Canberra, 1989,3. http://www.touregypt.net/ featurestories/curse.htm
Source:The Star
January 21, 2022 20:01 UTC
CTOS Digital 4Q net profit slips 8.6% on higher admin expenses, declares 0.33 sen dividend
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 21): CTOS Digital Bhd saw its net profit for the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2021 (4QFY21) fall slightly by 8.62% to RM11.78 million from RM12.89 million in the previous year due to higher administrative expenses. Consequently, earnings per share dropped slightly to 0.5 sen from 0.7 sen previously. Meanwhile, the group also declared its third interim dividend of 0.33 sen per share, to be paid on Feb 25, 2022. The annual net profit came in below analysts’ consensus forecast of RM52.7 million for FY21, according to Bloomberg. Annual revenue went up by 15% to RM153.17 million from RM133.23 million in the previous year.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 21, 2022 18:38 UTC
After hefty FY20 dividend payout, analysts expect GenM to pay lower dividends in FY22
However, analysts are expecting lower dividends for FY22 as the company recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus, he expects GENM to lower its dividend or not pay anything this year. He also foresees GENM to pay a lower dividend in FY22 as the company achieves profitability. Another analyst, who declined to be named, opined that GENM may pay a 12 sen dividend in FY22 as he expects the firm to turn around by achieving RM868 million profit. However, for FY21, he expects a lower dividend of six sen because of the prolonged losses.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 21, 2022 16:14 UTC
Goldman, JPMorgan award bumper bonuses to top bankers
NEW YORK: Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, Wall Street's premier investment banks, this week informed staff of bumper bonuses for 2021, following a record-breaking year for Wall Street dealmaking. Goldman Sachs increased its annual bonus pool for top-performing investment bankers by 40% to 50%, people with direct knowledge of the matter said. JPMorgan Chase, the largest U.S. bank, increased its annual bonus pool for top-performing investment bankers by 30% to 40%, sources with direct knowledge of the matter said. Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan declined to comment. Top performers in M&A advisory and equity capital markets enjoyed some of the biggest bonuses at both Goldman and JPMorgan, the people said.
Source:The Star
January 21, 2022 04:32 UTC
Crude's upward march continues, with supply concerns still dominant
NEW YORK (Jan 20): Oil rose modestly on Thursday, as bulls remain in charge, with benchmark Brent nearing US$90 a barrel, bolstered by strong demand and concerns about short-term supply disruptions. Trading has been dominated by supply concerns, from short-term issues like a temporary halt to flows in an Iraq-to-Turkey pipeline to a consistent shortfall from OPEC+ members in reaching targeted supply increases. "The voices of those forecasting US$100 per barrel oil are getting louder by the day," said Tamas Varga at oil brokerage PVM. Crude stocks rose by 515,000 barrels last week while gasoline inventories rose by 5.9 million barrels, boosting those inventories to their highest in a year, according to the US Energy Department. Supply concerns have mounted this week after a fire temporarily halted flows through an oil pipeline running from Iraq's Kirkuk to the Turkish port of Ceyhan on Tuesday.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 20, 2022 23:48 UTC
Fake vaccination certs: Probe shows cases linked to private purchase vaccination, says Khairy
PETALING JAYA: Investigations on the fake vaccination certificates have revealed that the cases were linked to paid vaccinations under the Private Purchase Vaccination, says Khairy Jamaluddin. “The results of the investigation and review by the Health Ministry with the police found that so far, all the cases detected involved the implementation of paid vaccinations conducted by the Private Purchase Vaccination. Khairy added that the private medical practitioners involved in the case had given fake vaccination reports to the ministry. He added that the dealers of the vaccines involved under the private purchase vaccination, Sinopharm and Sinovac, should tighten their standard operating procedures to avoid similar cases. Khairy also said that the investigations regarding the case are still being carried out by the police while the Health Ministry will give its full cooperation.
Source:The Star
January 20, 2022 21:29 UTC
Solarvest, QBE Malaysia, Anora collaborate to offer solar investment insurance product
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 20): Clean energy specialist Solarvest Holdings Bhd, insurers QBE Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd and Anora Agency Sdn Bhd collaborate to provide solar photovoltaic (PV) investors a solar investment insurance product, namely the SolarPro Line-Stoppage insurance policy. The solar investment insurance product, namely the SolarPro Line-Stoppage insurance policy, is a comprehensive general liability policy with consequential loss underwritten by QBE Malaysia, through Anora. According to the three companies, this insurance product is aimed to offer solar PV investors better coverage to ensure business continuity and peace of mind. The trio highlighted that despite the growing market size of solar PV systems in the nation, there remains a gap in the market when it comes to a truly comprehensive insurance policy for solar PV investors. Chong added that comprehensive insurance coverage would markedly reduce the risk of solar PV system investments, which will in turn encourage a greater flow of funds into the solar industry and enable higher adoption of solar energy.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 20, 2022 20:42 UTC
Panasonic’s nanoe technology inhibits Covid-19 variants; improves indoor air quality
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 20): The exclusive nano-sized atomised water particles generating technology — nanoe technology — by Panasonic has proven its inhibitory effects against four novel coronavirus variants (SARS-CoV-1), namely Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta. Panasonic’s nanoe is an ionizer that generates "nano-sized atomised water particles" using electrostatic atomisation technology. Panasonic went on to introduce nanoe X technology, which releases up to 20 times more hydroxyl radicals than nanoe. This is where our nanoe X technology comes in, in the form of air purifiers to cleanse indoor air and the surrounding surfaces. Most Panasonic air solution products across consumer and commercial categories carry nanoe X technology, such as air purifiers and air conditioners.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 20, 2022 16:39 UTC
QuickCheck: Do Eskimos have 100 words to describe snow?
IT HAS long been popularised that the Eskimo tribes living in the far north have 100 (or even more) words to describe different types of snow. Verdict:FALSEEskimos do not have a disproportionate amount of words to represent snow in their languages. The misconception stems from a statement pioneer anthropologist Franz Boas made on the language of the many groups commonly described as Eskimo. Boas' original statement noted that Eskimos had a variety of words for various snow-related concepts, however the same was true of English. On a side note, many of the people who are referred to as "Eskimo" don't actually like being called that.
Source:The Star
January 20, 2022 13:25 UTC
Malaysia Airlines appoints Goldair as general sales agent in Greece
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 20): Malaysia Airlines Bhd is reported to have appointed Greece-based Goldair as its general sales agent (GSA) in Greece to expand the airline’s global aviation network. According to the statement, the strategic partnership is designed to increase recognition of Malaysia Airlines in Greece and to steer sales growth throughout the Greek market with a particular focus on marine travel, signalling further expansion of the airlines' sales presence and representation in Europe. Goldair is one of the largest and most esteemed organisations in the field of transport and tourism in the Greek market, the statement said. Goldair deputy managing director Nikos Sofiadis said in the statement that the beginning of the new partnership between Malaysia Airlines and Goldair is a significant milestone for the latter. "We look forward to expanding Malaysia Airlines' presence in Greece and we will work closely together to fully maximise Malaysian hospitality’s product and network potential,” Sofiadis said.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 20, 2022 09:11 UTC
Nestcon’s unit wins RM188mil contract
PETALING JAYA: A unit of Nestcon Bhd has bagged a RM188.5mil construction contract from Konsortium Exsim Development Sdn Bhd (KED). In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, Nestcon said its wholly-owned subsidiary, Nestcon Builders Sdn Bhd, received a letter of award (LoA) from KED to undertake the design, construction, completion, commission, maintenance and guarantee for foundation works, sub-structure works, main building works and infrastructure works for the construction of a 39-storey building in Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur. The development will comprise of 608 units apartment suites and three units of retail shops. The overall contract period for the project is within 36 months from the date of commencement and the project is expected to be completed for handover on or before Jan 18, 2025. The acceptance of the LoA by Nestcon Builders is expected to contribute positively to the net assets per share, earnings per share and gearing of the company for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2022 and throughout the duration of the project.
Source:The Star
January 20, 2022 00:23 UTC
Fake vaccination certs: Johor cops nab syndicate members who charged up to RM650 per cert
JOHOR BARU: The police have busted a syndicate offering fake Covid-19 digital certificates at up to RM650 each, with the arrest of eight people including three employees of a private clinic here. "All those who purchased these certificates are anti-vaxxers who refused the immunisation," he said during a press conference here. Comm Kamarul revealed that the first arrest was made on Jan 17 when police carried out a series of raids in the city. Asked if any doctors or medical personnel were involved, Comm Kamarul said investigations are ongoing. He urged those who have purchased the digital certificates to come forward and assist in investigation by contacting investigating officer Insp Ahmad Sufian Abdullah via 012-562 6734.
Source:The Star
January 19, 2022 17:38 UTC
As pandemic lingers, cash-flow positive Malaysia Airlines expects ‘best-case scenario’
Izham said the results of Malaysia Airlines' successful corporate restructuring include the removal of about RM15 billion worth of the airline's liabilities and around RM10 billion of total debt. "Malaysia Airlines is very lean and agile. Under the collaboration, MAG and STB will jointly work to market and promote events involving STB, Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, MASwings and MHholidays. According to Izham, Malaysia Airlines, which has been cash-flow positive since October 2021, expects to achieve its "best-case scenario" where it returns to pre-pandemic financial performance as seen in 2019, by the fourth quarter of 2023. The Covid-19 pandemic, which began to be widely reported since early 2020, has brought the global aviation sector to its knees as pandemic-driven movement restrictions barred people from travelling to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 19, 2022 16:18 UTC
TALKING EDGE: Reigniting Malaysia Healthcare Travel
[SPONSORED] Malaysia has been open about its ambitions to grow its healthcare travel industry, only to have Covid-19 derail its plans. With global economies slowing opening back up, we ask the CEO of Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council Mohd Daud Mohd Ariff about whether it is ready to ride the possible recovery.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 19, 2022 10:05 UTC
ENABLING ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Currently, PIKs nationwide are undergoing transformation into Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family) Digital Economy Centres (PEDi) to promote the digital economy among the rural population. Moving forward, she is looking at transforming Mak Jemah Mall into a supplier instead of just a retailer of Thai products, in order to help boost the income of those in her community through entrepreneurship. Another PEDi Icon, Norlin Frozen Foods founder Norlizah Haman, 45, shares a similar story of success, thanks to the PEDi Teluk Rimba – then known as the Teluk Rimba Rural Internet Centre (PID). Based in Tangkak, Johor, she established Norlin Frozen Foods in 2011 as a manufacturer and distributor of otak-otak-based frozen foods. It was then that she requested help from the staff at the PEDi Teluk Rimba to help send the necessary materials over and successfully completed her presentation as a result.
Source:The Star
January 19, 2022 09:17 UTC